One of the Things I Did This Week: A Pantry Makeover
This week, I thought I would give my mom a pantry makeover while I was visiting. She was very receptive to the idea and gave me permission to share it here. Thanks, Mom!
Friends have asked me how do you begin eating purposely and healthfully and the simple answer is - you just do it! When you make a decision to change your eating habits for good, you must get rid of the crud and replace it with whole foods and better choices.
Basically, I went through her pantry and removed all the "white" stuff - pasta, rice, sugar, crackers, mixes, a few processed foods, fake sugar, anything with high fructose corn syrup and anything with MSG.
I took a picture of what I removed... I only have my cell phone camera, so the quality isn't great, but you get the idea. Mom really eats well already, I am just helping her tweek it a bit. She didn't have much to remove and it wasn't as painful as she imagined...
Next, I went to the store and purchased the ingredients for this week's menu plan and replacement products. I replaced the white products with brown and bought maple syrup, raw sugar and honey as natural sweeteners. I also increased the fruits and veggies. The trip to the store cost $125 and I was pretty pleased with that considering it was for the week's menu to feed 4 and half plus restore her pantry to wholesome goodness.
My Mom found it was easier for her to have someone else (me!) remove the products because you can get in a mindset that you must consume what you have first before changing your eating habits. I say if the crud is crud...please don't eat it just cause you bought it.
Have you made over your pantry or someone you love's yet?
Categories: Chive Talkin
Tags: whole foods pantry makeover whole grains
Hi Jenna, it is your blippin' fan from twitter. Okay, I want to know when you started eating healthy and purposeful. How old were the kiddos and how did they take to it. I would love to do a pantry makeover, but I am worried how the kids will react - I already have the pickiest eater on the planet in my youngest. That is my first question, I have more, but one at a time
Reply to this
Hey Friend!
To give you a bit of background on me... read http://jennasjoyfulhaven.blogspot.com/2008/10/change-is-good.html This is from my first blog and you are welcome to look around on it. I would like to move that content at some point to myjoyfulhaven.com and here. Just haven't done it yet. Maybe my summer project. LOL.
I have/had a picky eater too...so I can totally relate. Things are improving in that area, and I am very thankful for that. I just don't allow them to be picky. I know, easier said then done, but it can be. You are giving good post fodder. Thanks!
Reply to this
Oh I so need to do this. My pantry is looking a little bit scary these days. I've been so focused on the outdoor space I really have let inside slide.
Reply to this
Good for you for getting your outside space ready for spring and summer. I encourage you to give yourself a pantry makeover on a rainy day if there is one coming up... or a Saturday morning...just find some time and get it done. You will be so happy you did. BTW...It was way fun to do a makeover on someone else's. Thanks again, Mom!
Reply to this
i need you to come and reorganize my menu planning, feeding my family, cleaning crud from my kitchen...life.
i'll wait. on my front porch. patiently.
Reply to this
ANYTIME! It's all about the baby steps, my friend. Thinking it will take double...no triple the time, cause you will have me ROFLMBO all day long! Thanks for stopping by
Reply to this